For Immediate Release: November 19, 2009
DBEDT News Release 09-32

HONOLULU—The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism's Creative Industries Division (CID) will continue to provide core services and functions of the Hawaii Film Office (HFO).

Georja Skinner, the Administrator for the division, a seasoned production professional and a former Maui film commissioner, will continue to oversee film office activities, taking a more hands-on role including Act 88 co-management, supported by Sandra Ichihara, senior film industry development specialist, Arts and Culture Development branch chief David Nada, and economic development specialists Tracie M Young and Steven Lee. Studio manager Tammy Hasegawa will continue in her role as Hawaii Film Studio manager.

"It's important to emphasize the Hawaii Film Office remains open for business and we pledge to provide the professional, timely responses and production support expected by our film industry as well as Hawaii's creative sectors-at-large," said Skinner.

CID administrator and staff will assist productions in one-stop film permitting for State facilities including statewide inter-agency coordination including Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources and Department of Transportation, and Department of Hawaiian Homelands as well as continuing to work with the county film offices as part of the "Film Offices of the Hawaiian Islands" alliance. Act 88 tax incentive coordination and co-management with Department of Taxation (DoTAX) will continue. All contact phone numbers, email and website www.hawaiifilmoffice.com remain unchanged.

Collectively, the creative sectors in Hawaii have grown 14% since DBEDT began tracking their activity in 2002, and in 2008 they contributed $4 billion to Hawaii's GDP.

Since its inception in 2003, the division and its branches have been responsible for important state initiatives to help grow Hawaii's creative economy. The division's film office in conjunction with industry, achieved landmark legislation in the establishment of Act 88, the film tax incentive program, helping to support the unprecedented growth in production which has advanced the state's workforce development initiatives in the creative sector. Film production expenditures have increased to $150-200M annually since the inception of the film tax incentive program.

The division's accomplishments in working with the music, arts, culture and digital media sector have helped to build long-term strategic partnerships and launch initiatives such as the UH Honolulu Community College's Music and Entertainment Learning Experience program in the business of music (MELE), MELE Songwriting Workshop, Grammy's Annual Music Tech Seminar Series, helped to establish the Grammy for Best Hawaiian Music Album of the Year, increased strategic industry alliances with national organizations, created an annual event to showcase Hawaii's musical artists at the L.A. Live Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, established the Creativity Academies initiative, fusing arts and science in the classroom for elementary through high school students, developed a WiFi mobile art museum/cultural assets pilot program, and recently completed the planning process to create a Film and Digital Media Center incubator and education facility on Oahu.

For more information, contact:
Steve Bretschneider, DBEDT Communications
Phone: (808) 586-2407
Email: sbretschneider@dbedt.hawaii.gov

Georja Skinner, DBEDT Creative Industries Division
Phone: (808) 586-2364 or 291-8073
Email: gskinner@dbedt.hawaii.gov